Tag Archives: gratitude

Happy American Thanksgiving

Posted on November 27, 2025 by Robert Basil

Even though I live in Canada, there is no holiday more meaningful to me than American Thanksgiving, having been raised south of here. I always obey the name, and spend the day reflecting in gratitude.

Posted in Robert's posts | Tagged , | Leave a comment

You complete the world.

Posted on January 5, 2022 by Robert Basil

It seems staggering that the brand new mayor of NYC, Eric Adams, could use the words “low skilled workers” to describe anyone who works in his city. I could walk for hours through Manhattan before seeing *anyone* whose work I … Continue reading →

Posted in Robert's posts | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Gratitude

Posted on August 17, 2021 by Robert Basil

I have been enjoying getting to know the work of translator/poet/essayist Michael Hoffman. Without an active sense of mischief, he says, translators can easily become bitter people. “Nobody sees what you are doing, and the minute you do something, people … Continue reading →

Posted in Robert's posts | Tagged | Leave a comment

Happy to help

Posted on November 3, 2019 by Robert Basil

Twice in the last week I have helped to prevent a calamity from befalling a colleague. One colleague was irritated and the other was infuriated to receive my editorial help, though they each requested it. Both will come out “smelling … Continue reading →

Posted in Robert's posts | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Aeon: Intellectual Culture

Posted on April 3, 2016 by Robert Basil

My new favourite place to go very morning is Aeon, a marvellous multimedia site devoted to intellectual culture: “big ideas, serious enquiry, a humane worldview and good writing.” From the About page: Aeon has four channels…. Most weekdays, it publishes … Continue reading →

Posted in Robert's posts | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Thank you *very* much

Posted on January 17, 2016 by Robert Basil

The acknowledgments page to B. M. Pietsch’s book Dispensational Modernism is very funny: I blame all of you. Writing this book has been an exercise in sustained suffering. The casual reader may, perhaps, exempt herself from excessive guilt, but for … Continue reading →

Posted in Robert's posts | Tagged , | Leave a comment

“The Franklin Effect”

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Robert Basil

Benjamin Franklin wrote his autobiography, “Enemies who do you one favor will want to do more.” He illustrated the maxim with a story: A political adversary had been lambasting Franklin in public speeches. Franklin knew that this person was very proud … Continue reading →

Posted in Robert's posts | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

To thank or not to thank on Twitter?

Posted on March 31, 2013 by tierneywisniewski

Nick Bilton’s suggestion that e-mail thank-yous are a time waster has sparked debate on whether or not it’s appropriate to thank people in digital communications. Some have gone so far to suggest that this new social ethic of efficiency is creating … Continue reading →

Posted in Tierney's posts | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Merci bien, Zuzax …

Posted on November 10, 2012 by Robert Basil

We thank Zuzax Consulting for hosting our new website.

Posted in Robert's posts | Tagged | Leave a comment